Here are three instances of real life Dominican Catch 22s:
1) If you have a big tank truck (18 wheeler type) and want to wholesale fuels by buying direct from the refinery, here is what happens:
a. You go to the refinery and ask what you need to do in order to buy direct. They say get a permit from the Ministry of Industry and Commerce.
B. You go to Industry and Commerce and ask for a permit to purchase directly from the Refinery. They tell you that you need to have a contract with one of the major oil companies--Shell/Texaco/Esso/Isla--in order to issue you a permit.
c. You go to one of the major oil companies to set up an account so you can purchase fuel at the refinery and they tell you that you need a permit from Industry and Commerce.
2) You have just imported your new car, at a sizable savings all told (RD$500,000 in this case). You have paid over RD$100,000 for the first license plate, gotten your vehicle registration papers and gone to your home in Santiago. Being a good citizen, you realize you do not have a "Marbete" which is the sticker on your windshield that says that you have paid your registration. So:
-You go to the local Rentas Internas Office and say that you need a marbete for your new car.
-They say:"Here you are sir, that will be 2400 for your new car plus 800 in penalties."
-You say: "Penalties? What penalties? I just got this car, here are the registration papers issued yesterday!"
-They say: "I am sorry sir, but the "system" will not allow me to go forward without posting the late fee."
So you pay the RD$800 (after all it would take 3000 in gasoline to go to Santo Domingo to fight this.
3) You take your daughter to the airport in Santo Domingo. (Cheaper flight after all). You take your ticket, park your car and go in, check her in and give her a hug and kiss and right back to the car. Max 20-25 minutes.
-You drive up to the toll booth to pay for your 1/2 hour parking and they tell you: "No sir, you need to go through the automated gates to get another ticket with your fee and THEN you pay here."
-You go to where this guy indicated that there were 5 automatic machines for this process, but it seems that 4 of them are "Out of Order!" ....and only one working and of course there is a very, very long line waiting to get their tickets. So long in fact that it takes 1 1/2 hours to get it!! And of course your are charged for the 1 1/2 hours of 'parking' as you waited in line!!! Sweet, huh?
Feel free to post your own versions of Dominican Catch 22s ....
Sheesh!
HB
1) If you have a big tank truck (18 wheeler type) and want to wholesale fuels by buying direct from the refinery, here is what happens:
a. You go to the refinery and ask what you need to do in order to buy direct. They say get a permit from the Ministry of Industry and Commerce.
B. You go to Industry and Commerce and ask for a permit to purchase directly from the Refinery. They tell you that you need to have a contract with one of the major oil companies--Shell/Texaco/Esso/Isla--in order to issue you a permit.
c. You go to one of the major oil companies to set up an account so you can purchase fuel at the refinery and they tell you that you need a permit from Industry and Commerce.
2) You have just imported your new car, at a sizable savings all told (RD$500,000 in this case). You have paid over RD$100,000 for the first license plate, gotten your vehicle registration papers and gone to your home in Santiago. Being a good citizen, you realize you do not have a "Marbete" which is the sticker on your windshield that says that you have paid your registration. So:
-You go to the local Rentas Internas Office and say that you need a marbete for your new car.
-They say:"Here you are sir, that will be 2400 for your new car plus 800 in penalties."
-You say: "Penalties? What penalties? I just got this car, here are the registration papers issued yesterday!"
-They say: "I am sorry sir, but the "system" will not allow me to go forward without posting the late fee."
So you pay the RD$800 (after all it would take 3000 in gasoline to go to Santo Domingo to fight this.
3) You take your daughter to the airport in Santo Domingo. (Cheaper flight after all). You take your ticket, park your car and go in, check her in and give her a hug and kiss and right back to the car. Max 20-25 minutes.
-You drive up to the toll booth to pay for your 1/2 hour parking and they tell you: "No sir, you need to go through the automated gates to get another ticket with your fee and THEN you pay here."
-You go to where this guy indicated that there were 5 automatic machines for this process, but it seems that 4 of them are "Out of Order!" ....and only one working and of course there is a very, very long line waiting to get their tickets. So long in fact that it takes 1 1/2 hours to get it!! And of course your are charged for the 1 1/2 hours of 'parking' as you waited in line!!! Sweet, huh?
Feel free to post your own versions of Dominican Catch 22s ....
Sheesh!
HB